title: In pre-school children, cortisol secretion remains stable over 12 months and is related to psychological functioning and gender.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Cross-sectional studies provide evidence that cortisol secretion as a marker of hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenocortical axis activity (HPA AA) is related to psychological functioning and behavior. However, there are no studies of the stability of the HPA AA in pre-schoolers over the longer term. The aim of the present study was therefore to investigate cortisol secretion in pre-schoolers longitudinally, and to predict psychological functioning 12 months later.
  
  
  METHODS
  92 pre-schoolers (mean age: 5.4 years; 44% females) took part in a follow-up assessment 12 months after initial assessment. Cortisol secretion was assessed both at baseline (morning cortisol secretion) and under challenge conditions, and a thorough psychological assessment was included.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Increased cortisol secretion at 5.4 years predicted increased cortisol secretion and psychological difficulties at 6.4 years. Compared to boys, girls had higher cortisol secretion at both 5.4 and 6.4 years. Cross-sectionally, at the age of 6.4 years, levels of cortisol secretion impacted differentially on girls' and boys' behavior.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In pre-schoolers, HPA axis activity at 5.4 years is stable over the following 12 months and is associated with psychological functioning. Pre-schoolers with higher cortisol levels are at increased risk of developing further psychological difficulties. Gender affects the manner in which HPA axis activity impacts on psychological functioning. Moreover, gender differences in cortisol secretion occur already in prepubertal children and appear to be independent from sex steroids.
authors.affiliation: Psychiatric Services Solothurn, Department of Adult Psychiatry, Solothurn, Switzerland. christine.haselbach@upkbs.ch
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hatzinger
authors.forename: Serge
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Brand
authors.forename: Sonja
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Perren
authors.forename: Anges
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Von Wyl
authors.forename: Stephanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Stadelmann
authors.forename: Kai
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: von Klitzing
authors.forename: Edith
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Holsboer-Trachsler
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D019540:Area Under Curve; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000523:psychology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D012463:Saliva / Q000378:metabolism*; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013557:Switzerland
chemical_list: D006854:Hydrocortisone
keywords: Cortisol secretion; Gender; Longitudinal study; Pre-schoolers; Psychological functioning